Feel free to pass this along to any new college student you may know.
You may even find some nuggets of advice for yourself…
I commend these students for a job well done! They have inspired me.

The final exam for my student success classes takes on a very personal note. Students write about their dream (why they have decided to come to college), the actions they have taken this semester to get closer to the dream, and one challenge (with an action plan) that they need to tackle.

By far, it is one of the most powerful classes of the semester. A number of students have never given their dreams much thought. Some have allowed the haters in their lives to hold them back. This semester allowed all of my students to focus on their meaningful future. A future of their creation.

There is an additional part to the final. On the day they turn their papers in, the students get a couple of minutes to speak to their dreams. If they choose not to speak to their dreams, they have the opportunity to provide advice to incoming first-year college students.

For those who take the advice option, the question is simple: “Based on your experiences over the last 16 weeks, what advice would you give to first-year college students?”

For this post, I will share some of the advice from these wonderful folks. Feel free to pass this along to any new college student you may know. You may even find some nuggets of advice for yourself.

I LOVE this final exam! One of my students said (as many have over the years) that the process was emotional for her (in a very positive way). Another student who is from Ghana said it best: Ayekoo!It simply means, “Well done!”

Yes, indeed. I commend these students for a job well done! They have inspired me.

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